My Dark Initiate LE V3 Customization

[SteampunkSith]

I have the Dark Initiate LE V3, and I started customizing it this past weekend.  Well, I couldn't actually do it...  I paid for it, it is my only saber thus far, and still "my baby"...  So I had a friend throw it down the driveway twice, then take a dremmel to it...  Now I need to get some scrap leather and do some wrapping...  Maybe hit it with some sandpaper...  We shall see.  It is an ongoing WIP.

I had previously read in here about using glove leather scraps for hilt wrapping.  Thus far, I have been unsuccessful in hunting any down, but I may be able to go to my nearest Tandy Shop this weekend.  However, the idea of using scraps...  I will have to trim them up, stitch them together, etc.  It may not be quite as neat as I want.  I mean, I will weather the leather anyway, but still, I don't want it to look like crappy work.

I found these, though, and were wondering if they would be good options...

https://www.etsy.com/listing/181697580/genuine-cowhide-leather-lacing-14-folded?ref=sr_gallery_13&ga_search_query=black+leather+strips&ga_ship_to=US&ga_order=price_asc&ga_page=3&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

https://www.etsy.com/listing/181590497/genuine-cowhide-leather-12-flat-black-5?ref=sr_gallery_36&ga_search_query=black+leather+strips&ga_ship_to=US&ga_order=price_asc&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

https://www.etsy.com/listing/181580488/genuine-pig-suede-12-flat-black-5-yds?ref=sr_gallery_40&ga_search_query=black+leather+strips&ga_ship_to=US&ga_order=price_asc&ga_page=2&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

I actually NEED to leather wrap my hilt.  I wear fabric gloves with my costume, and it is all just waaaaaaaaaaay too slick when I try to hold my saber.  I was working on my twirls, and I just have ZERO grip with the gloves.

Thoughts?

[richmbailey]

Another option is getting some O-rings (#18) and inserting them into the grooves of the Initiate hilt (see pic below). This gives really good extra grip. Could work and it's cheap and easy to put on. I plan on adding my O-rings back once I finish the weatherizing process. It does help with grip big time.

[SteampunkSith]

My friend mentioned those this weekend, actually.  Where did you get them?  Is this a Home Depot item repurposed for sabering?

[The 97th Acolyte]

Those links all look really good for saber wraps... So thanks for posting!

I'd also like to see pics of the partially customised saber, sounds pretty good so far.

And quite a few people use O-rings, I believe they're used as seals for something, but they've been, as your said, repurposed for sabering.

[richmbailey]

Got the O-rings in the Sink repair section at Home Depot. Make sure you get #18. The fit perfectly and tight and are very hard to move.

[SteampunkSith]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiice.  I may do a rings/leather combo...  The leather will help give a Steampunky vibe...

[richmbailey]

Those O-rings are super tight. If you put them over the leather wraps you may need to get them slightly larger in size. Just a thought.

[SteampunkSith]

Excellent, thank you!  I may get a couple of sizes and play around with it.

[SteampunkSith]

I think I may try to find a purty jewel and attach it to my basic on/off button.  Red, of course.



Also, since I have the basic pommel, I may do something like this to it...

[SteampunkSith]

Neither of those would interfere with twirling and the like.   

[richmbailey]

Sweet. Looks like a royal/steam punk hybrid.

[SteampunkSith]

Yes, although the one in those photos is not a "functional" saber.  It is just a flashlight that they tricked out to look like a saber hilt.

[SteampunkSith]

Now here is something interesting I stumbled upon...  Hm...  I wonder how jacked up this would get over time..  Catching on things, snagging things, the friction/pull of removing your blade from the hilt, etc.  I also wonder how it looks lit up.





Thoughts?

[SteampunkSith]

The chick that did that used air-dry clay, by the way.  Interesting...

[richmbailey]

Hilt is cool, but no idea what's going on with the blade.